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Today's Sports

THORNTON — Bryce Carter is setting up his senior season perfectly.
The Chatfield swimmer finished fourth in the 50-yard freestyle at last year’s 5A state championships. And now at the Dick Rush Memorial Invitational on March 31 he showed that this year he’s in it to win it.

By day, he’s Brandon Morris, a 22-year-old Columbine High School gradute employed in the mailroom at Oce Business Services in Westminster. By weekend nights, he’s Bruce Rogers, a 6-foot, 220-pound local independent wrestler.
A former four-year wrestler for the Rebels, Morris started training for professional wrestling days after his high school wrestling season ended.
“I just wanted to do it the moment I turned 18. Then I realized I had to go through my senior year first. But then I wanted to do it right away,” Morris said.

Wearing a black blazer, dress shirt and slacks, Andrew Ryan looks the part of a professional, even if the 5-foot-11, 170-pounder doesn’t exactly inspire visions of Hulk Hogan or Andre the Giant.
But in the wrestling ring the 21-year-old Colorado Springs resident has established himself as one of the state’s most entertaining and technically sound grapplers.

BASEBALL
Dakota Ridge opens with fast start in Arizona tournament
GLENDALE, Ariz. — Dakota Ridge won its fourth straight game and second in the Coach Bob/Boulder Creek Invitational on March 24 with an 11-1 win over Coconino (Flagstaff, Ariz.) at Deer Valley High School.
The Eagles (5-1) opened with a 3-0 win over host Deer Valley earlier in the day.
Dakota Ridge played two more games in the tournament after press deadlines. The Eagles return to Colorado to play at Golden on April 5.

HIGHLANDS RANCH — The old saying is that it’s not over until it’s over thanks to N.Y. Yankees legend Yogi Berra. But that certainly wasn’t the case March 23 when the Columbine Rebels’ boys lacrosse team met host Valor Christian.
It was over almost before it started.
Serving as a tuneup for Columbine’s three-game road trip to California this week, the Rebels imposed their will early and often in a 19-4 thumping. The 19 goals were a season-high for Columbine.

ARVADA — It’s not like Dakota Ridge didn’t have its chances. Time and again the Lady Eagles got good looks on goal. But be it whether the ball sailed high over the net or directly into the crossbar it wasn’t meant to be.
Amy Hayes and Adranna Brite scored second-half goals as Arvada West sent Dakota Ridge to its fourth shutout defeat of the season 2-0 at the North Area Athletic Complex. The 5A state finalists from a season ago dropped to 1-5 overall, 0-1 in Jeffco League play.

LAKEWOOD — Zane Ferrin had a single-minded approach to his last at-bat. The Front Range Christian senior first baseman was sitting on fastball all the way. And it just so happened he got it on the first pitch.
Ferrin’s walk-off single with two outs in the bottom of the seventh capped a five-run rally as the Falcons stunned Byers 9-8 on March 23 at Keli McGregor Field at All-Star Park.

EVERGREEN — The Columbine Rebels boys’ swim team trekked up the hill to faceoff against the Conifer Lobos at Wulf Recreation Center on March 22. At first glance, the meet might’ve seemed mismatched since Columbine is a 5A team and Conifer is 4A. But the meet was mutually advantageous because it was designed to allow both schools to advance based off of their particular strengths.

GIRLS SOCCER
Littleton continues winning ways, blanks Englewood
ENGLEWOOD — Elena Sacco and three other players scored as Littleton improved to 3-1 on the season with a 4-0 non-league victory over Englewood on March 17.
Laura Puchino, Lindsey Payson and Lanie Sumlin also scored goals for the Lady Lions.

Loera, Spartans hold off host Littleton in slugfest
Nate Loera went 3-for-3 with a double, home run and two RBIs as Greeley West upended host Littleton 9-7 on March 16.
Greeley West broke open a close game with four runs in the top of the sixth inning.
Overall, the Spartans had 11 hits.
Littleton had 12 hits, led by a 3-for-4 outing from Alec Womeldorff. Kevin Wake, Tanner Bell and Sean Wake each had two hits.
The Lions, who scored in all but the first and third innings, never led in the game.